"I Knew Something Was Wrong" says Robbinsville Man who Fought Back Against Coronavirus

By ELIZABETH MEYERS

April 18, 2020 at 12:10 PM

Content Options

21-year-old Ashwin Reddy in London before he contracted the conronavirus21-year-old Ashwin Reddy in London before he contracted the conronavirus Credits: Ashwin Reddy

Ad

By ELIZABETH MEYERS

April 18, 2020 at 12:10 PM

ROBBINSVILLE, NJ -- He was enjoying his college spring semester studying abroad.

Based out of London and traveling through Europe to cities that included Amsterdam, Budapest, Barcelona and Milan, it was supposed to be an experience of a lifetime.

That's when COVID-19 (coronavirus) began to spread and a travel ban for American citizens went into effect. On March 13, 21-year-old Ashwin Reddy of Robbinsville Township boarded a plane in Milan, Italy and returned to America when he knew immediately that something was wrong.

Sign Up for Hamilton/Robbinsville Newsletter

Our newsletter delivers the local news that you can trust.

You have successfully signed up for the TAPinto Hamilton/Robbinsville Newsletter.

Reddy spoke exclusively to TAPinto Hamilton/Robbinsville about his battle with coronavirus and his month-long road back to recovery.

"As soon as I got on the flight, I was feeling that something was not right. I thought my body was maybe tired and worn out," said Reddy. "But, four hours into the flight, which was mostly empty, I felt chills over my entire body, a cough and a headache. I didn't have a thermometer, so I couldn't tell if I had a fever."

Reddy said he had a mask for the flight and wore it the entire time. Ironically, the movie "Contagion" was playing. As he crossed the Atlantic Ocean, he began to feel sicker and sicker and told his parents, who were meeting him at the airport, to prepare a room at home for him to self isolate in. By the time he arrived home Reddy had a fever of 103 degrees. He wrapped himself in a towel and experienced "one of the worst nights of my life."

The maximum dose of Tylenol over the next 24 hours only brought his fever down slightly, and the use of his asthma inhaler "wasn't helping a ton" to combat his shortness of breath. On March 15, Reddy and his parents called Capital Health Medical Center in Hopewell and asked to be tested for COVID-19. He drove to the hospital alone with his parents in another car to prevent them from contracting it.

Medical staff met him at the entrance to the hospital dressed "completely like out of that movie Contagion I had watched on the flight. It was an absurd feeling, but I wasn't terrified because I knew my age played a factor."

Ashwin's parents, however, were not allowed into the hospital to be with him. His temperature and vital signs were taken in the emergency room, and he was asked about his recent travels. He then was given the coronavirus test which "felt like they were almost touching my brain." Reddy believes that he would not have been given the test had he not been traveling in Italy, which at the time was an outbreak hot spot.

Reddy was deemed healthy enough to return home for self-isolation, but was told to return to the hospital if his shortness of breath worsened. Antibiotics helped him breathe easier, but the cough remained. For one week he waited in isolation for test results that eventually came back positive.

With the help of a family friend, who was a doctor, and a cousin, who is a medical student, Ashwin took self-isolation very seriously. His parents would leave his meals at the bedroom door, where he was holed up. Those dishes remained inside for the entire 14-day isolation.

"I wish I had more guidance on what to do to get better, or about the fever as opposed to feeling like I had to rely on my system to beat it," said Reddy, whose fever finally broke after five days. He felt better, although the dry cough persisted for two weeks.

After watching a cable news segment about the potential for coronavirus survivors to help others fighting it, Reddy contacted Hackensack University Medical Center. He was tested again for coronavirus, which now was negative. He was deemed a good candidate to donate plasma, which he will do on Monday morning.

"I get queasy having blood taken, but I am hoping it helps people," said Reddy, who added that the doctors believe his plasma donation can help up to three critically-ill coronavirus patients. But the doctors are still unsure if he could contract the virus again.

To those who may feel they have been exposed, or have been diagnosed with the virus, Ashwin says: "Don't panic. People should know it's fight-able. Rest up, drink a lot of fluids, and listen to your health care providers. Self-isolate and do your part in bringing this virus to an end. Now is not the time to take things lightly or downplay it because you don't want to stay home. Don't be selfish."

Because they followed stringent self-isolation protocols, Ashwin's parents have not contracted the virus. He said, however, that he's heard that several fellow students in the study abroad program from throughout the country also have contracted coronavirus from their time in Europe. Some have only experienced more mild symptoms, such as a loss of sense of smell.

Reddy applauded the leadership in Robbinsville, where he has called home since he was two. In particular, he thanks Mayor Dave Fried for all that he has done to help the community by doing whatever he can to keep his residents safe.

Now, a rising senior study at Indiana University's Kelley School of Finance, Reddy said he hopes to be able to keep his internship at an investment firm in Chicago, but is not sure if the coronavirus outbreak will force it to be withdrawn.

MERCER COUNTY, NJ -- When the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic first began and shelter-in-place orders for New Jerseyans were put in place, calls to Mercer County's Womanspace center for domestic and sexual violence were flat or down. It was worrisome to Womanspace's executive director Patricia Hart and her colleagues locally and across the state.

Speaking with TAPinto Hamilton/Robbinsville, ...

MERCER COUNTY, NJ -- When the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic first began and shelter-in-place ...

TRENTON, NJ -- Gov. Phil Murphy and Chief Administrator Sue Fulton of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) on Friday announced plans for a phased reopening of MVC facilities to the public following closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The reopening will proceed in a way that safeguards public health and safety, bringing many changes and improved efficiencies to MVC ...

HAMILTON, NJ – Hamilton Township Mayor Jeff Martin announced on Friday that an agreement has been reached with public unions to help address the extraordinary financial situation the Township faces as a result of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) global pandemic.

Under the approved agreement, Township employees earning less than $65,000 per year will have a furlough of two days per week for the ...

HAMILTON, NJ – Hamilton Township Mayor Jeff Martin announced on Friday that an agreement has been ...

TRENTON, NJ - Seeking to give small business that have been especially hard hit by the economic fallout from COVID-19 a boost, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) has announced that applications for the expanded Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program will become live at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 9.

Taking an even more active stance in support of these businesses ...

TRENTON, NJ - Seeking to give small business that have been especially hard hit by the economic ...

HAMILTON, NJ -- Hamilton Township Police said on Thursday afternoon that Mary Jo Rosati, who had been missing, has been located. Her mother reported Rosati, who was homeless, missing after she had not been heard from or seen in more than two months.

Rosati, 49, of Hamilton, was found safe and sound at the Pine Motel on Route 130 in Bordentown. She has now been reunited with her ...

HAMILTON, NJ -- Township police issued a missing person's alert for local teenager Sara Villagran who was last seen on May 30 at her uncle's home. The Hamilton Police Department is investigating the disappearance gir's disappearance.

It is believed that she may be heading to the City of Passaic area in northern New Jersey.

HAMILTON, NJ -- Hamilton Township Police are seeking the public's assistance in locating a missing Hamilton woman who is currently homeless.

Mary Jo Rosati, 49, was reported missing by her mother on May 24; the last day that she has been seen or heard from. She was last seen wearing a gray colored long sleeve shirt, blue denim jeans and black boots.

NEW JERSEY — Eight days after the killing of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer protests and demonstrations have continued across New Jersey.

Gov. Phil Murphy in a press conference Wednesday said these have been peaceful demonstrations, despite the crowds at some — with Mayor Michael Soriano estimating as many as 4,000 people marching in Parsippany.

“There has been ...

NEW JERSEY — Eight days after the killing of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police ...